'Breaking Bad': Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

"Breaking Bad" fans have watched Walter White undergo a dramatic transformation, morphing from a humble chemistry teacher into an international meth kingpin, over the hit AMC series' five seasons. As the Emmy-winning show gears up for the second half of the final season, "Nightline" went behind the scenes with the cast and show creator. Watch "Nightline" TONIGHT at 12:35 a.m. ET.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

"Breaking Bad" fans have watched Walter White undergo a dramatic transformation, morphing from a humble chemistry teacher into an international meth kingpin, over the hit AMC series' five seasons. As the Emmy-winning show gears up for the second half of the final season, "Nightline" went behind the scenes with the cast and show creator. Watch "Nightline" TONIGHT at 12:35 a.m. ET.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Actor Bryan Cranston, shown here with ABC's David Wright, is the show's anti-hero, Walter White, who enters the meth business to leave his family financially stable after receiving a terminal lung cancer diagnosis. In talking about the show's final episodes, Cranston said, "There's going to be trouble. There's going to be some bad things happening. It's 'Breaking Bad' not 'Breaking Good.'"

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Actor Aaron Paul plays Jesse Pinkman, a 25-year-old methamphetamine dealer and Walter White's partner in the meth trade. "He is such a tragic character," Paul said. "He's doing all of these bad things but the audience tends to root for him and they want him to kind of make it."

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Set of Walter White's living room, where he plays cards and hosts family gatherings with his DEA agent brother-in-law, Hank Schrader, portrayed by actor Dean Norris.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Set of Walter White's kitchen. Several episodes start off with a breakfast scene in this room. In one episode, Walter also makes a homemade bomb here.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Anna Gunn plays Walter's wife, Skyler White. In the beginning, their marriage is strained by his bizarre behavior, but when she finds out her husband is a meth dealer, the housewife becomes a serious accomplice. "Season 5 is [where] she really finds herself in a place where she's drowning and I think it really finally feels like the bottom has fallen out of her life," Gunn said of her character.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Oblivious to his father's meth dealing ways, Walter Jr., who has cerebral palsy, looks up to his dad as a role model. RJ Mitte (center) plays Walter Jr., and said shooting the final episodes were very taxing. "It really is nerve-racking," Mitte said. "Anyone could die at any moment no matter who you are."

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Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Inside the "Breaking Bad" prop truck, one of the show's producers holds "Baby Holly." Walter and Skyler's newborn daughter is often played by a doll, instead of a real person.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

A bag of "meth" inside the "Breaking Bad" prop truck -- it's actually blue rock candy. Show creator Vince Gilligan said he started to tear up when he wrote the series finale. "It suddenly dawned on me that I'm never going to be writing this character again," he said. "It was a lot of water under the bridge."

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Set of Walter White's backyard, sans pool, where he has also entertained guests. "In Walt's head, he's probably in one of the best spaces he's been in since the beginning," Bryan Cranston said.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

"Better call Saul" is a line often heard on the show. Shown here is the set of Saul Goodman's office. A shady lawyer, Saul helps Walter launder money under the guise of a cancer charity Walter Jr. set up for his father. Saul is also well connected, and knows drug dealers throughout New Mexico, which comes in handy for Walter and Jesse's meth trade.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Wall hangings in Saul Goodman's office on the set of "Breaking Bad." They include a copy of the Declaration of Independence and several newspaper clippings.

Victoria Thompson/ABC

Behind the scenes: 'Breaking Bad'

Hanging in Saul Goodman's office is his masters degree from the University of American Samoa.